Southern mayors defy Italian coalition to offer safe port to migrants

Palermo mayor offers to open port to rescue vessel but may need coastguard cooperation

Mayors across the south of Italy have pledged to defy a move by the new Italian government – an alliance of the far right and populists – to prevent a rescue boat with 629 people on board from docking in the Sicilian capital.

But the mayors’ defiance appears unlikely to serve any practical purpose without the direct support of the Italian coastguard.